Improvement in cigar-boxes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. PENN.

Cigar-Box.

No. 197,051. Patented Nov. 13,1877.

WWI/8855} W N. PETERS. PHOTOIJTHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON a CV 2 Sheets-Sheen 2. M. A. PENN. Cigar-Box.

No. 197,051. f'atented Nov. 13, 1877.

NJETERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED 11 MARTIN A. PENN, on WASHINGTQF, DIS'rIaro'r OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIGAR-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,051, dated November 13, 1877; application filed May 14, 1877.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN A. PENN, of Washington, in the county of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing- Boxes for Cigars and other articles where it is important to guard against frauds, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in boxes to be used for packing cigars or other articles where it is important that the packing-box should not be a second time used, the purpose being to prevent frauds and to guard against counterfeits; and

It consists in a box of any form, size, and material required, divided into compartments by shelvings inserted and secured in grooves in the sides and ends of the box, so that the shelves cannot be removed when the box is sealed without destroying the box, all of which will more fully appear by reference to the specifications and accompanying drawings.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a complete box. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of the box, showing the grooves and shelves inserted. Fig. 3 is a shelf. Fig. 4 is a plan of the end of the box, showing the grooves a and the incisions e in the grooves. Fig. 5 is a plan of the box packed loosely with cigars. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the box loosely packed with cigars.

The sides A A and ends B B of the box are provided with grooves a a a a, so arranged as to form a continuous groove extending entirely around the inside of the box, cut at desired intervals, and sufficiently deep to secure and hold the shelvings b b b b in such a way that they may not be removed without destroying the box.

The sides and ends may be dovetailed, nailed, or by any secure device fastened together, and the top 0 and bottom D, which are also grooved, then securely fastened on.

In the bottom of the grooves a are incisions 0, cut sufficiently deep as to weaken the parts at these points, permitting the subdivisions to be readily and uniformly broken off, and at the same time the more effectually to guard against opening the box without injury or detection. c is a ribbon or any other suitable material, used to confine individual articles when it is desired to secure several small articles in one compartment, as in the case of clgars.

The shelves 1) and ribbon 0 may be entirely dispensed with when a separation of the articles is unnecessary.

When packing the box, either one end or one side, together with the shelves and top of the box, are removed, having been left loose at the manufactory for that purpose. The bottom is then packed, and a shelf inserted and packed in its turn; or, the goods may be packed on the shelf before it is inserted, as is most convenient to the packer, and so on until the box is full. The end or side is then put in place and secured, the cover put on and fastened down, and the joints sealed up.

Inpacking cigars or other small articles that may be necessary to secure individually, one end of the ribbon c is secured to the bottom of thebox or to the shelf, the cigar or other small article put in place, the ribbon drawn over it, and tacked again to the bottom, and so continuing imtil the layer is completed. Thus secured, no cigar or other article individually packed canbe removed without breaking the loop by which it was confined. As soon as one layer has been exhausted, the empty portion of the box is then broken off, the shelf removed, and another layer of goods exposed, and so on to the bottom.

Having now fully described my invention, so that those skilled in the art can manufacture and understand it, what I esteem as novel, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A packing-box subdivided into compartments by shelvings firmly secured in grooves extending entirely around the inside of the box, and so weakened at desired points by incisions in the bottom 'of the grooves that it cannot be unpacked without detection or destroying the box, substantially as shown, and for the purposes specified.

2. A packing-box subdivided into sections by grooves and weakened by incisions in the bottom of the grooves, in combination with shelves b, packed with cigars or other small articles, secured thereon by ribbon or other suitable means, substantially as shown, and in the manner described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of May, 1877.

M. A. PENN.

Witnesses J. E. CARPENTER, VERNON DORSEY. 

